About David Keighley

David Keighley is a Director and full time clinical therapist at Therapy Retreats. He is a BBC Channel 4 couples therapy consultant. A visiting couples therapist at the Carl Yung Institute, Switzeland. The UK Enterprise Awards 2025 nominated Therapy Retreats as the Best Intensive Therapy Retreat Provider 2025.He left his full time counselling practice over 40 years ago to train as an Anglican priest and he has maintained his professional interest in the relationship between psychology and spirituality throughout his life. Although now retired from parish ministry he had combined his past role as a parish priest and hospital chaplain, with his current work as a couples counsellor. 

He has a great belief in his clients ability to make progress despite the fact that many have tried to deal with their issues in the past without success. Clients find his forward-looking direction for change one of the most appreciated aspects of his programme. His experience in counselling has included a number of clinical and teaching posts. As a qualified teacher he has taught in an Adolescent Crisis Unit at a psychiatric hospital as well as in state and special schools. His adult teaching posts have included teaching counselling and hypnotherapy at post-graduate medical centres in Devon and Cornwall. 

He has been a therapist at the Crown Heights & Camrose NHS Medical Centre's in Basingstoke, Hampshire and Belmont Surgery in St.Austell, Cornwall.

David’s philosophy is that therapy should be a truly healing experience that helps people move forward with a greater self-awareness and understanding of why negative and destructive life choices are made, and how they can be removed to allow positive and permanent changes for the better. 

"The retreat from start to finish is for couples that truthfully are there to really work. The outcomes and rewards reflect the work put in. Very pleased with content as the programme was flexible and tailored to meet our needs. We would highly recommend David."

Brian and Rebecca, Somerset.

"Completely changed my mindset from the negative to the positive by giving my overworked brain the time and space to heal itself. Combined with David's excellent common sense approach that also explains the science behind our minds working, this gives a fresh start feeling that anything is possible - which of course it is!"

Rosie, Wiltshire

"Amazing experience. Straight to the point. Tackled the issue head-on, no going round. This is exactly what we needed. So pleased we went ahead with it."

Claudia and Gavin, London

"Arrived hopeless, left with a completely new sense of hope and optimism. Wonderful and life-affirming."

James and Effie, London

"We cannot recommend this retreat too highly or find a better way of investing in your relationship. So, in summary, 'Don't get divorced; get David'."

Richard & Sarah, Midlands

"The weekend has opened our eyes to where our relationship went wrong, and then brought us together again. David is able to see the wood for the trees and make sense of an overwhelming amount of information to help you get to the heart of the problem. No beating about the bush - straight to the point!"

Michael & Vanya, London

"3 days with David has totally changed our perspective and offered solutions to issues previously thought insurmountable. Recommend wholeheartedly."

Matthew & Catty

"Our only regret is not coming to David sooner. What a difference just a few days can make. Thank you for giving me back my husband". "We would unreservedly recommend 'Therapy Retreats' to anyone experiencing relationship issues. Keep up the good work. Found it far better than 'Relate' counselling."

Jackie & Claude, Hampshire

"Rewiring your brain never seemed so simple....but so necessary. Recommend without hesitation!"

Sasha, London

"Dear David, We want to thank you very much for our retreat. This was a watershed for both of us - we have continued to practise your techniques, even taken up meditating for 30 minutes most days, using co-counselling when we feel the need and both of us have sped up the process of letting go. We find ourselves, now, in a much happier and more harmonious place and can now look forward with great anticipation. Thank you very much for a most effective counselling experience"

Peter and Ann, London

He studied psychological medicine under Dr Tilleard-Cole at the Oxford Institute of Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy under Professor Paul Salkovis. In his clinical practice he has specialised in Cognitive Behavioural Couple Therapy and Clinical Hypnotherapy. He studied IBCT (Integrative Behavioural Couple Therapy) under Professor Andrew Christensen, UCLA and CFT (Compassion Focused Therapy) under Professor Paul Gilbert. He is a Senior Associate of the Royal Society of Medicine (RSM).

In March 2016 David launched his personal therapy programme called 'Instant Image Therapy' (IIT) at the Royal Society of Medicine.This programme unites a wide range of evidence-based and current neuroscience concepts. This is the therapy which he has developed over nearly four decades of clinical practice and refined over the past seven years to become the unique programme he is able to offer to his clients today. It is an integral part of his popular "Save Your Marriage In Three Days" retreat.

2024 was an exceptionally busy year and produced a lot of international and UK interest in David's private and individually led therapy retreats at our country cottage venues. In 2024 so far there has been an increasing demand for, and interest in, his unique "Save Your Marriage In Three Days" retreat, the effectiveness of which can be seen on the testimonials page. At these private retreats David can help resolve a wide range of personal and emotional issues with a specific and highly effective programme which can range from two days to a full week.

 

All clients who have attended these retreats have noticed a positive change in mindset and optimism for the future during the time of the retreat as his many testimonials bear witness see above or visit our testimonials page.

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